Diary of a Road Trip part 2: May 2006

May 22, 2006

We have been gone from home for 5 days and I have turned into an old lady. When I was younger I never wanted vacation to end, now all I want is to go home. I had to have a phone interview for medicaid today. It was very difficult to conduct business via the cell phone and I lost the connection twice. I was frustrated to say the least. Then I couldn't find the memory card for the digital camera that has all the Thomas pictures and video on it. I crawled on the floor for a long time and just almost cried. Then I looked at my wallet and there was the card in plain sight. I was much relieved. The weather outside was cool and rainy. We had breakfast and then hit the road. We decided to take the kids to Four corners. The only place in the US where 4 states share a common border. You can stand in all four at once. We took a little side trip to see a volcanoe, but ended up not seeing it. The kids got to jump around on a machine that made and earthquake--they enjoyed that. We left and headed for Monument Valley. A place where the wind and water have eroded mountains into shapes. The wind started really picking up on the way and we got into a major sand storm. Cayla, Zane and I didn't even get out of the car at the Monument Valley visitor center. Dad had been saying it is so amazing that water did all this. Then we drove down to see some of the monuments, with the wind beating the heck out of the car, the sand flying and ruts as big as the grand canyon in the road. Zane kept asking if we were going to drive into the river. It took me a while to figure out he thougth the water that had eroded everything away was still there. Pretty intuitive for a 3 and a half year old. We didn't spend much time at Monument Valley. We drove into Utah a little and then headed for 4 corners. When we reached the place it was about 7 pm. There was a closed gate with a no trespassing sign. Apparently Four Corners now closes and charges admission. I was not happy to have driven all that way and not be able to stand in this spot. Dad reluctanly took Amanda and Zane over the gate and they hiked off to see the monument. Another car full of people followed behind them. Cayla and I just waited in the getaway car. Nothing happened, no reservation police popping out to arrest them, so it was fine. At least we have pictures of Amanda and Zane in 4 states. Cayla and I just got a picture by the sign saying don't go in. From there we drove to Durango, Colo. Cayla didn't like the change in altitude and we missed all the scenary because it was dark. We were glad to finally get to a hotel.

May 23, 2006
Today we drove and drove and drove. I cried most of the way through Colorado. There were green pastures with horses grazing and log cabins everywhere. That was always John's and my dream to live in a log cabin in Colorado. Hard day for me. We did see lots of pretty scenery. We drove to Clovis, NM and stopped for the night. I was surprised that the kids continued to do well in the car. Zane had an accident in his pants when we stopped for him to play. The only one on the entire trip. He hates the car seat now. Just doesn't want to get back in it when we get out. But I don't blame him.

May 24, 2006
The last leg of the journey. We grabbed convenience store food and hit the road. Stopped just outside of Post to feed Cayla. There I learned that CW Post used dynamite to create rain. It worked 40% of the time. I was impressed even though no one else was. We finally reached home about 4:30. I was glad to see the house and get in the air conditioning. Texas is hot compared to the cool Colorado air.

Over all we are tired and cranky, but glad to be home. Amanda has to take finals tomorrow and then the rest next week. Cayla and I will rest and Zane will go back to day care. The memories of the trip will be just that memories. But happy ones. I am glad we did it even if I am feeling old now. It was well worth the driving to see the Grand Canyon and hear Zane squeal over Thomas.

Diary of a Road trip


May 18, 2006

I had my six week check up today. Every thing was great. I am down about 40 pounds from last September. Wearing some size 14s. Feeling pretty good about that. We leave today for the Grand Canyon. Williams, AZ is over 800 miles from home. Hope the kids do well.

We left about 2:30 pm and drove all day and into the night. Cayla did really well as did Zane. Amanda was just anxious to get there. She asked about a million times about stopping. Overall the kids did great in the car. We had to stop at a road side park once so I could feed Cayla and Zane could roam around. Then we had to stop on the side of the road in NM so I could feed Cayla and everyone could have a bathroom break. Amanda and I peed on our shoes--pretty funny. We stopped to eat around 10 pm and then kept driving. We got to Moriarity, just outside of Albuquerque. That was just over half way there. We were all excited to stop and sleep.

May 19, 2006
Day 2 of the journey. This is a sad day for me. My 5 year anniversary. I called and wished John a happy May 19th. We were supposed to be in Mexico this year, I guess New Mexico will have to do for me. Another day of driving and driving and driving. We stopped just over the Arizona line at a really cool rest area. Had a picnic lunch and then drove on. We reached Williams around 6 pm (4 pm their time). Amanda and Zane tried the "heated" pool. According to Amanda there was no heat. We met a nice family there who had also come for Thomas. They kept following us around--not really--we just kept running into them. We ate at the hotel restaurant and Zane played with the other family's little girl. Then we drove into town and ate ice cream at a route 66 diner. The other family came in right after us--too funny. After ice cream we went back to the hotel and tried to settle in for the night. Zane was pretty wild. Good in the car--bad out. But overall things are good. Cayla has been surprisingly good.

May 20, 2006

Ate breakfast a a diner advertised on the visitors channel. Guess who else ate there--that's right the family from the hotel. That was the last time we saw them, but it was fun to keep meeting up with them. Zane spilled hot chocolate all over his shirt so we had to change from a Thomas shirt to another train shirt. After breakfast we drove by the train depot and Zane caught his fist glimpse of Thomas. Up to that point he thought we were going to see a toy train. He had asked a million times to go see the new baby calf at home. But once he saw Thomas was a real train, he was ecstatic. He was just about bounicing out of his seat and wanted to see Thomas right then. It was worth the whole trip to hear him squeal. He cried when we turned the corner and he couldn't see Thomas anymore. We had a long time till our turn to ride, so I was glad when Thomas back out of the station and Zane calmed down. We went to a deer farm and the kids got to feed all sorts of animals. The deer would rush the feed bucket and tried to eat the kids too. Cayla and I stayed behind so she could nurse, but we did get to see the tail end of the adventure. The deer were something else. From there we went to the National Geographic visitors center just outside of the South rim of the Grand Canyon. They had an Imax theater showing the Grand Canyon film. It was awesome. Zane did not like the noise and Cayla had to nurse most of the time, but the rest of us enjoyed it. I even felt a little "air sick" as we went flying by. I was glad to get a glimpse of the canyon that way, because I knew we would never get to see it all on our own.

We made it back to the Thomas site in time for our ride. Zane thought it was so cool to go on a passenger car pulled by Thomas. He loved seeing Thomas in person. After the 20 minute ride, there were a lot of things to do around the area. Zane met Sir Tophamm Hatt and he and Amanda both participated in a magic show. There was a train made out of legos. It was incredible. I was so glad we went because Zane loved it so much. I hope the pictures turn out. I know we took a lot on the train, but hope Amanda got some of the train itself. That night we walked down town and ate pizza then went to bed. We were all tired.

May 21, 2006

We took a "regr" (Zane's word for regular) train excursion to the Grand Canyon. The train ride was a little boring. Not much to see on the way. But like all good things, the end was wonderful. The canyon is like nothing else in the world. There are no words to describe its awesome wonders. We walked from the depot to a look out spot and got sandwiches and ate at a "fountain" (really a cactus bed) and looked out over the canyon. Wow!!! As we sat down and started to eat, Amanda started saying "ahh, ahh, ahh." I looked down and there was squirrel between her and the back of the bench. He grabbed her packet of mayonaisse and ran away. It was so funny. I wish I had the camera ready for that, but we missed it. But we will remember it always. Zane's only recollection of the canyon is that stupid squirrel stealed sisters mayonaisse. Dad's hat blew off at a bus stop but a nice guy was able to retrieve it. Dad and I enjoyed taking the shuttle bus to 3 stops along the canyon and seeing different parts of it. I really wish we had more time there. I hope to go back someday. We had to get on the train too soon and journey back to Williams. On the way back, train robbers came, but the sherrif got them. Zane didn't like it much, but Amanda thought it was funny. We immediately got in the van and drove to Flagstaff after we returned. We wanted to drive further, but decided to stop there for the night. Cayla screamed in the restaurant and I had a lady come and tell me she needed to go to the emergency room. I was so upset. We were all just tired and ready to get some rest.

Stayed tuned for the journey home and all the exciting adventures.

Cayla 4 Week Pictures!

Cayla was 4 weeks old last Tuesday and being the Aunt Sissa I am, I took pictures of her. Sorry it has taken me a week to post them! Today she is 5 weeks old! At 4 weeks she was 9 lbs., 6.7 oz. She is growing! She has also started pulling her head up! Becky and I think this means she's a genius. Hey, it could happen. OK, so there's supposed to be 3 pictures, but for some reason the computer at work is not letting me post the third one. When the computer agrees to cooperate with me (or when I get home), I'll post the other pic.

Singing to the radio

Cayla is a month old and doing great. Melissa is supposed to log in and post her four week pictures soon. I am sure they are wonderful. Cayla is really settling into a schedule now, of course it isn't my preferred schedule but it helps. My "other" mom is here this week and is really helping us. She has been letting me sleep a lot so I am feeling pretty good.

Zane is really having a hard time with his daddy's departure. He still thinks he is going to daddy's house on Tuesday, Thursday or "today." I had been letting him talk to John on the phone but it hurts him over and over again. Like the movie 50 first dates, it makes it all real for him again. I finally told John not to call and so far he has not called. Zane hasn't asked for him at all. Of course that has only been since Wednesday. Tomorrow I am taking Zane to a counselor to get her opinion on how to handle contact with him. I have to do what is best for Zane at this point. If it meant moving closer to John I would do it, for Zane. Of course John would not do the same. He is just selfish.

I am feeling like myself again. I haven't had happy days in a long time, but recently I woke up from my sorrow. I noticed that I can sing with the radio again and the sad songs don't make me cry. That is when I knew I would be okay. That and I didn't want to stick my head in the oven anymore. I am not even taking the anti-depressants. Just getting on with life.

The divorce will be finalized July 18. 9 days before my 29th (okay 35th) birthday. My first divorce was final two days before I turned 25. Pretty ironic. The funny thing is this time our anniversary comes first, so we will be married 5 yeas before the divorce. I still hate the idea of divorce, but must deal with it.

Have to find a job now. Pray that God will throw the right one at my feet, literally. I need His guidance on this one.

More later and hopefully some pics of the baby.